Type-writing machine.



Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

I 2 SEEETSSHBBT 1.

' J. O. McLAUGHLlNn TYPE WRITING- MACHINE,

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 7. 1908 Qw. MK w 7 N R W l'fnesss J. 0. MOLAUGHLIN.

MIT..- M N I T M W E T APPLICATION FILED UT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

Wfnasses \Vriting Machines, ,2! specificatlmi.

WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW UNITED sures- Parser. rat en.

JOHN G. r-mL neHLin, onJERsnY OI-TY, NEW JERSEY, ass enoa'ro UNDERWOOD TYPE- YORK, Y}, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

"TYPE-wRITING acaw? a ritizeu of the Ul'litegl't tates, resfic'ling in Jersey City. in the county. of Hudson and State of New Jerse ,'have invented eert am new and useful improvements n1 Type.-

of w-lnc'ltthe following 1s This invention relates to ing mechanisms of the writingniaclunes.

the platemshiftcarriages of type- It is the practice to make the platen frames as light. as possible,;to avoid weighting the 'arriage, which must more "ery promptly between type impressions. It is also the practice to counterbalance the platen -frame by m ans of a spring, so as-to inake the platen shift key easier to operate. For these reasons it is sometimes fouudthat in rapid operation the platen frame is liable to.

quiver or shake up and down upon tht rarriage. these; movementsbeing very sli'5rht, but still objectionable because they are in up and down direction, and hence-tend to tause irregularity in the line of writing,

since the types strike upon the front of the if latem a nlsliglit variations. in the position of the platen cause a. corresponding unevenness m the lme'of .writln 4 The ob ect of my invention is to overcome this ditlicurlty; and to this eiid, I arrange latches tooperate between the platen frame ends and the ends of the carriage, upon which the platen frame is iriounterhwhih latches hold the platen frame rigidly to the carriage. also provide the: usual shift key with means to release the latches in advance of shifting the platen for writingeapital letters. gllpon the return of the platen t 'ame to normal pos tion, the latches snap t-lQlll]. into normal positions to 'holdythe platen frame to the carriage.

The latches are preferably fixed at the ends of the carriage upon asmgle rock shaft;

to catch-over arod or other device which is fixed upon the platenframe; and upon the usual shift rail Iprovide an auxiliaryplate or rail which is eonstrueted to engage a device that projects from said latch'shaft. This projecting device preferably in the form of ananti-friction roll swiveled. upon a collarthatds fixed to saidlateh shaft.

The auxiliary )late or rail en 'a es said swireled rollto release the latches, and then the main shift-rail performs its usualfuncthe, usual-= manner; a sprin about said shaft to eounterbalance the weight Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

ing mechanism of the well known Underwood typewrithig machine; the parts being;

shown in normal positions, the platen frame resting upon the carriage, and locked the rate by the. latches. Fig. 2 1s a skeleton ew rot-respondlug to Fig. 1. but showingthe initial morement of the shifting; mechanism, 1 whereby the latches are swungforward to release the platen frame 'for its, upward movement. Fig. 3 is a view similar to .2, but showing the platen elevated to receive the impressions of capital types. -l-is a front View" of the machine with the parts shown in lhel ig. 1. position.

Type bars l ln ving lower case types 2 and upper ease types 3, strike upon the front side of a eylindrical platen 4, which is yournaled by an axle in the ends (3 of a. platenv fran'ie," which also comprises a p=.\per-shc lf 7. Theplaten frame is mounted upon a ear- 'ri'age 8. which runs upon front and rear -ails 10'. The platen frame is hung upon a swinging bail, comprising a pan" of arms 11 fixed to and projecting forwardly from a rock-shaft 12 journaled upon carriage arms 13, whereby the platen frame is guided in its upward and dowmvarcl movements in i H; being coiled of the platen frame. -'lhe platen frame is shifted up by means of a key 15 mounted upon the front end of an elbow lever 16, an upstanding arm- 17 ot wlneh nears upon the rear edge of a. platelike arm L8,, forming part of a. frame swinging about a i'tmh shnfi 19. jmirnaled in the framework- 20 of the machine. Said swinging frame also (1)111 prises a. rail 21 which serves as a. shift rail for the platen-frame, the latter having a roll 22 to be engaged by said rail to elevate the platen frame. The construction far described is in common use in said Under- Wood maehine. l

frame 18 about the axis of two latches 23. These are fixed at their lower ends upon the ends of a rock-shaft 24-,

which is journaled in a pair of brackets 25 fixed to and depending from the ends of the carriage 8. A spring or springs 26 coiled about the rock shaft 24 tend constantly to press said latches rearwardly to catch over a rod 27, usually fixed in and forming part of the, platen frame; these latchesbein'g fitted to hold the-platen frame firmly to the car'- riage, whereby up and down vibration of the platen in rapld operationis prevented, since the carriage is not only sufficiently heavy to hold it firmly down upon its tracks, but is also tightly fitted th the rail 10, by means of coljars 28 encircling, the under side of the ral 'Upon depression of shift-key 15, the arms 16, 17 swing about a fulcrum 29, the arm '17 pressing forwardly the plate or 19, thereby lifting the rail 21. Said rail is normally a trifle below the roll 22 on the platen frame, so that the initial upward movement of said rail is idle so far as said roll is concerned. I provide upon said rail, however, an auxiliary rail or plate 30, to engage a roll 31, which is swiveled upon a collar 32 fixed upon the rock shaft 24-, so that such idle upward movement of the rail 21 enables the au iiliary rail 30 to turn said shaft 24- and swing the latches forwardly to the Fig. 2 position, thereby releasing the platen frame, so that the continued upward movement of the rail 21 may have the effect of lifting the roll 22, together with the platen frame, to the capital printing position, shown at Fig. 3. During this movement, the roll remains in engagement with the front face of the auxi-hary rail or plate 30, the latter having sufficient breadth (or height) to maintain engagement of such roll during the entire sh ftlngo eration. The roll 31 is provided about mi way of the len 'th of the platen frame or of ,the rock-sha t 24, and constitutes a rojection or lug for engagement by the shi t-rail 3O forthe purpose specified. A rolling projection is preferred to a fixed pro ection, since it avoids friction against the auxlliary rail 30 during the writing of capital letters, due to the traveling of the carriage 8, although the invention is not limited to the rolling projection. Upon relieving the key 15 from pressure, the platen frame settles down to its hearings on the carriage 8, the frame 18and the key lever '1 f3, 17 resuming normal positions, and the springs 26 throwing the latches 23 rearwardly to reeonnectthe ends of the platen frame to the ends of the carriage.

Thus it will be seen that by means of. a very simple and inexpensive change in existmg machines, the difficulties above noted may be avoided.

Variationsmav be inserted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the in'iprovements, may be uscd without others.

Having thus described my invention. I claim:

1. In a typcwriling machinc. the combination with a (-arriagc. a platcn. and a platen frame mounted on the carriage to shift for writing capitals, of latches at thc ends of the carriage to catch over the platen frame to hold it in one position. a rock-shall cxlcnding along and mounted upon the carriage. both of said latches being lixod to said 1'ocl\ shaft, and a ltey-operatcd mechanism to shift the platen frame, a rail being operated by said key to engage a part projecting from said rocleshaft to rotate it to rclcase thc latches, to permit the platen frame to be shifted bv said key-operated mechanism.

In a tvpewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, a platen and a plalcn frame mounted on the carriage lo shill for writing capitals, of latches at the ends of thc :arriage to catch over the platen frame to hold it in one position, a rock-shaft cxlcnding along and mounted upon the carriagc, both of said latches being fixed to said rock shaft, :1 roll swivcled on said rocloshal't about midway of the lcnglh of the latter, a shift-kcv operating a rail to cngagc said roll to rock the sha fl and rclcasc lhc lulclics. and a platen-frame shifting mcchanism also operated by said key.

3. In a typewriting machine. the combination with a -arriagc. a plalcn and a platen frame mounted on the carriage to shift for writing capitals, of lalcbcs at the ends of the carriage to catch o\'cr tlreplaion frame to hold it in one position, a rocleshaft extending along and mounted upon the carriage, both of said latches being fixcd to said roclo shaft, a roll swivclcd on said rocloshal't about midway of the length of the latter, a shift-key operating a rail to engage said roll to rock the shaft and release the latches, and a plalcn-frame shifting mechanism also operated by said hey; said rail being constructed to detain said latches in rclcascd po sitions during the shifting morcmcnt of the platen frame.

=1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage. a platen, and a plalcn frame mounted on the carriage to shift for writing capitals. of latches to opcrulc bctween the ends of the carriage and the cnds of the platen frame to hold the latter in onc position, said latchcs being iixcd lo a rockshaft, and a lwy-operalcd mechanism to shi H the platen frame, a rail being opcrated by said key to engage a part projecting from said rock-shaft to rotate it to release the latches to permit the platen frame to be shifted by the key.

5. In a typewriting machine, the eombination with a carriage, a platen, and a platen frame mounted on the carriage to shift. for

Writing capitals, of latches to operate be-' tween the ends of the carriage and the ends of the platen frame to hold the latter in no position, said. latches being fixed to a re kshaft, and a key-operated. mechanism to shift the platen frame, a rail being operated by said'key to engage a part projecting from said rock-shaft to rotate it to release the latches to permit the platen frame to be shifted by the key; said rail constructed to turn said projecting part out of its path, and having a face suificiently broad to detain said projecting part during the shifting of the platen frame 6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, a platen, and a platen frame mounted ,on the carriage to shiftfor writing capitals, of latches to operate between the ends of the carriage and the ends of the platen frame to hold the latter in one position, said latches being fixed to a rock- 'shaft, and a key-operated mechanism to shift the platen frame, a rail being operated by said key to engage a part projecting from said rock-shaft to rotate it t'orelea'se the latches, to. permit ,the platen frame to be shifted by the key; and a spring tending constantly to'retnrn the latches to normal positions. i

7. In a typcwriting machine, the combination with a carriage, a platen, and-aplaten frame mounted on the carriage to shift for writing capitals, of latches at the ends of the carriage to catch over thc platen frame' to hold it in one. position, arock-shaft extending along and mountedupo n the carriage, said latches being fixcdto' the rockshaft, a key-operated rail to shift the platen, and an auxiliary rail secured upon said keyoperated rail to engage aprojection mounted upon said rocleshaft to turn the latter and release the latches.

8. In a typewriting machine, thecomhination with a carriage, a platen, and a platen frame mounted on the carriage to shift for writing capitals, ofl atch'os at-t'hepnds of the carriage to catch over the pl aten frame to hold it in oneposition', a rock-shaft extending along and, mounted npon the carriage, said latches being fixed totherockI-shaft, a keyoperate'd rail to shift the platen, a-ndan auxiliary rail secured upon said key-o 'ierated rail to engage a projection mounted upon said rock-shaft to turn the latter and release the latches; said auxiliary railhaving aface sufficiently broad to hold the latches released during the shifting of the platen frame, and means tending to return said latches to normal positions. t

9. In a typeWritin-g machine, the combination with a carriage, a platen, and a platen frame mounted on the carriage to shift.- for -writing capitals, of latches at the ends of the carriage to catch over the platen frame to hold it. in one position, a rock-shaft extending along and mounted upon the carriage, said latches being fixed to the rock-shaft, a keyoperated rail to shift the platen frame, and -;'key-ope1'atedelements to release said latches, ,one element on the shift-rail and one on the iiock-sl'iaft, one of said elements in the form ofa rail and constructed. to turn the other element out of its path.

"10. In a typewriting machine, the combination .with a carriage, a platen, and a platen frame mounted on the carriage to shift for Writing capitals, of latches at the ends of the carriage to catch over the platen frame to hold it in one position, a rock-shafteitending along and mounted upon the carriage, said latches being fixed to the rock-shaft, a

key-operated rail to shift the platen frame,

and key-operated elements to release said latches, one element on theshift-rail and one on the rock-shaft, one of said elements in the form of a rail and constructed to turn the other element out of its path; and having a engage and turn aside said roll, the auxiliary face sutliciently broadened to detain said other element duringthe shifting of the.

platen frame.

nation with a carriage and a platen frame shiftahle thereon and having a roll, of a rail 'inountc'd upon thennu-him' frame to engage said roll to shiftthe platen frame, a latch device to hold the ends of the platen frame 7 to the carriage, and two coZi n-rative memhers, one mounted on the rail and the other mounted on the latch device, and const cted to release the latch'dcvico and hold. in released during the shit-ting of the platen frame. 1

12. In a lypowriting fYltl0l1lHC,'l'llO combination with a carriage, a platen and a platen frame mounted on the carriage to shift for writing capitals, of latches at the ends of the carriage to catch over the,platen frame to hold it in one position, a rock-shaft extending along and mounted upon the carriage, said latches being fixed to the rock-shaft, a spring tending to rock said latches, a collar upon the rock-shaft, a roll swivclcd on tho colla i'shift-rail, the platen frame provided 1th a roll'to be engaged by said HLH'FF rail hilt normally disengaged thorofi-olmand i an auxiliary, rail fixed upon the shift-rail to rail having .a broad face. to engage said roll to hold the latches-released.during the shifting of the platen f 'ame.

JOHN C. MOLAUG'I IL IN.

l/Vitnossos K. FnANm on'r, John '0. Seminar. 

